Swivel



T. STANWICK May 1'9, 1964 SWIVEL Filed Oct. 9, 1962 INVENTOR TAD STANWICK BY ^af/zd ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,133,756 SWIVEL Tad Stanwiek, 4715 Upton NW., Washington, D.C. Filed Oct. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 229,344 7 Claims. (Cl. 237-91) The present application relates to a swivel, particularly a marine-type swivel, which is noiseless, durable, selflubricating and inexpensive.

Numerous previous inventors have attempted to develop swivels which were durable in sea water and were incapable of becoming jammed. At present the only successful marine swivels are constructed of stainless steel at great cost. Nevertheless, these stainless steel swivels eventually become frozen by the corrosive action of the salt water upon the steel parts and seldom have an effective life of more than one year. Furthermore, as the ball bearing elements which are employed to reduce friction become pitted, wear occurs in the moving parts. As a result of this wear there is longitudinal play of the swivel members which are secured in end to end relationship within the enclosing housing. This play results in a sonically detectable shock, which occurs as the swivel ends strike one another, as well as the ends of the housing.

According to the present invention there is provided a swivel which is constructed of polyester plastic reinforced with liberglass strand. The swivel includes a cylindrical housing with co-axial ports at each end. Base elements of the swivel are supported in end to end relationship within the housing, so that their eyelet Shanks extend through the respective ports. Washer means are interposed medially outwardly in the cylindrical housing between the adjacent ends of the swivel members, so as to urge the shank ends against the opposed ends of the housing intermediate the respective ports and the housing wall thus eliminating play and consequent shock of the swivel elements. The reaction of the polyester with the hydrogen chloride in the water provides a measure of lubrication.

Accordingly, it is an object of invention to provide a swivel wherein play and shock between the swivel parts are eliminated.

Another object of invention is to provide a swivel which may be constructed of a material reactive with the salt water.

Another object of invention is to provide a inexpensive swivel which is self-lubricating, noiseless and durable.

Yet additional objects of invention will become apparent from the ensuing specification and attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of the proposed swivel constructed of two semi-cylindrical polyester sections',

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section showing the iberglass strand reinforcing means employed in the housing and swivel elements;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken along section line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of a modification wherein compressed swivel means are mounted at one end of the housing and a rigid hook is secured at the other end.

In FIG. 1 a plastic swivel is indicated as comprised of cylindrical housing 1l) formed from semi-cylindrical opposed parts 12 and 14 which may be manufactured from a single die and secured one to the other by conventional epoxy or like adhesives.

As indicated in FIG. 2 the housing walls may have a hardened plastic or like cover 32 but such is not necessary. Walls 42 are reinforced with liberglass strand 34. Coaxial ports 44 and 46 are defined at opposed ends of the housing. Ports 44 and 46 are of lesser diameter than the interior of the chamber so as to deiine shoulders 24 intermediate Walls 42 and these ports. The individual swivels 3,133,756 Patented May 19, 1964 ice comprise a base element 16 with flanges 18 which abut shoulders 24. A shank 20 extends from base 16 through the individual ports and is arcuately configured as at 28 to define a cutout eye 22 to which shackle 50 may be secured by pin 52. Anchor chain 26 may be of the conventional iron type or it may be of the plastic type reinforced with iiberglass strand. The individual shanks 20 are reinforced by fiberglass strand or roving 38 which has an end portion 40 passing around a ligure of 8, horizontally disposed berglass strand anchor 36. The strands 38 and 36 thus provide an extraordinary locking of shank 20 within base 16. Interposed between the opposed ends 6h of base elements 16 is a resilient washer 30 of U-shaped cross section. Washer 30 abuts the inner wall of chamber 48 and longitudinally compresses the swivel shoulders 18 against shoulders 24.

It is this compressing feature which basically distinguishes the swivel from other types. As will be apparent sea water entering into chamber 48 between the swivel elements 16 and the chamber walls provides the basis for lubrication of the swivel. This lubricating action is enhanced by the reaction of the sea water HCL upon the polyester resin itself. The longitudinal compressing effect of washer 30 inhibits longitudinal play between the swivel flanges 18 and shoulders 24, as well as between the opposed ends 60 of base 16. This compressibility greatly reduces wear and eifectively eliminates noise as a factor in operation of the swivel. The constant tension between the swivel base flanges 18 and shoulders 24 eliminates recurrent impact.

Since the present swivel is constructed of plastic it serves as an insulator and can be used on power lines and the like. The modilication illustrated in FIG. 4 is expected to have utility in slaughter houses as a swivel for the support of the beef carcasses which are worked upon by butcher operators using electric tools. In the FIG. 4 modiiication a single base element 16 is supported within the housing, flanges 13 being urged against housing shoulder 24 by annular washer 30. At the end of the housing opposite protruding shank 2li there is provided an intergral hook 54', reinforced with strand 56 and defining eye 58. Since the swivel is insulated by virtue of its plastic construction, the butchers will not be subjected to grounding out of their electric tools through the carcasses upon which they are working.

Manifestly, various changes in the configuration of the parts may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A swivel comprising:

(A) A plastic housing being enclosed at one other end;

(B) A plastic rotatable base member supported in said chamber and including shank with eyelet extending through said port; and

(C) Resilient means interposed between the enclosed end of said housing and said base so as to urge said base against said port end of said chamber.

2. A swivel as in claim 1, including exterior hook means attached to the enclosed end of said housing.

3. A swivel comprising:

(A) A plastic housing defining a cylinder having coaxial ports at each end',

(B) Rotatable plastic base members co-axially supported in said chamber in end to end relationship, each said base member including a shank with eyelet extending through said port; and

(C) An annular, resilient washer interposed in said chamber between opposed ends of said base memdeiining a cylindrical chamber end with an axial port at its bers so as to continually compress said members against the ends of said chamber.

4. A swivel comprising:

(A) A plastic housing dening a cylindrical chamber having co-axial ports at each end, said ports being of lesser diameter than said cylinder;

(B) A pair of rotatable plastic base members coaxially supported in said cylindrical chamber in end to end relationship, each said base including a lesser diameter shank with eyelet extending through respective ports; and

(C) Annular resilient means interposed in said chamber between opposed ends of said base members s0 as to press the shank ends of each said base member in tension with respect to that portion of the cylindrical chamber end intermediate the cylinder wall and the respective coaxial port.

5. A swivel as in claim 4, wherein said housing and said base members are constructed from a polyester plastic.

6. A swivel comprising:

(A) A plastic housing reinforced with fiberglass strand defining a cylindrical chamber having co-axial ports at each end, said ports being of lesser diameter than said cylinder;

B) A pair of rotatable base members co-axially supported in said cylindrical chamber in end to end relationship each said base having a lesser shank diameter with eyelet extending through respective ports,

said shank being reinforced in said base by berglass 3 strand means; and

(C) An annular, resilient washer abutting the inner wall of said chamber and interposed between the opposed ends of said base members so as to compress said base members against the ends of said chamber so that the shank ends of each said base member are tensioned with respect to that portion of the cylinder ends intermediate the cylinder wall and the co-axial port.

7. A swivel comprising:

(a) a housing defining an enclosed cylinder having coaxial ports at each end, the wall of said cylinder being constructed of a plastic material reactive with the hydrogen chloride in seawater as to enhance lubricating action;

(b) a pair of rotatable base members coaxially supported in said cylinder in end to end relationship, cach said base member including a shank with exterior eyelet extending from said base through said port and said base members being constructed of a plastic material reactive with the hydrogen chloride in seawater as to enhance the lubricating action between said wall and said base members; and

(c) annular resilient means interposed in said cylinder between opposed said ends of said base members so as to compress said base members against the ends of said chamber intermediate of said ports and the wall of said cylinder.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A SWIVEL COMPRISING: (A) A PLASTIC HOUSING DEFINING ACYLINDRICAL CHAMBER BEING ENCLOSED AT ONE END WITH AN AXIAL PART AT ITS OTHER END; (B) A PLSTIC ROTATABLE BASE MEMBER SUPPORTED IN SAID CHAMBER AND INCLUDING SHANK WITH EYELET EXTENDING THROUGH SAID PORT; AND (C) RESILIENT MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE ENCLOSED END OF SAID HOUSING AND SAID BASE SO AS TO URGE SAID BASE AGAINST SAID PORT END OF SAID CHAMBER. 